Bill's Computer Potpourri

File Management

Windows 10

Decide on a strategy for organizing and managing files and folders. One of
the most important things you must learn about computers is how to manage files
and folders. Just like in the days of old, before computers, you had to
have a system of organizing all your papers. How hard is it to find a tax
receipt when it is just tossed in a box or on top of a desk. Most of us
have a filling cabinet with folders in alphabetical order where we file our
important papers.

Then there are others who have this filling system:

Your computer has a built-in filling cabinet, it is called File Explorer and it comes with all the basic tools you need for your files. File Explorer
{not to be confused with Internet Explorer} is a File Manager application that
is included with all versions of the Microsoft Windows Operating System.
It provides a graphical user interface for accessing the file system on your hard drives or external drives/memory cards.

To open File Explorer just click on the File Explorer icon on the Task Bar (Yellow Folder) or use a Keyboard short cut: WIN + E.

File Explorer displays the hierarchical structure of files, folders and
drives on your computer plus any external drives, such as a USB Memory Stick or
External Hard Drive. You can use File Explorer to copy pictures from your
camera to the Pictures folder without the need to install special software. It
also shows any network drives that have been mapped to drive letters on your
computer and other computers on a Local Area Network. Using File Explorer,
you can copy, move, rename and search for files and folders. For example, you
can open a folder that contains a file you want to copy or move, and then drag
the file to another folder or drive. File Explorer gives you access to ALL
the files on your hard drives, including the Operating System files. Having
access to all these system files can be dangerous for the inexperienced user. He
or She may be tempted to delete files they think they don't need or don't
understand and this could cause the operating system to crash.

When you open File Explorer it will normally go to Quick View or This PC which will show you the Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos, and Downloads Folders
for that User Account. Each User has His own set of folders.

A few tips:

1. Adopt consistent methods for file and folder naming. Use common names.